Handle and candle holder for jack-o&#39;-lantern



April 5, 1966 J. B. M CORMICK 3,244,372

HANDLE AND CANDLE HOLDER FOR JACK-O'-LANTERN Filed Oct. 31, 1965 f vsnzar James 5 M Co/wz/b United States Patent 3,244,872 HANDLE AND CANDLE HOLDER FOR JACK-0-LANTERN James B. McCormick, La Grange, Ill. Filed Oct. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 320,433 5 Claims. (Cl. 24016) This invention relates to fanciful decorations and displays and, in particular, to jack-o-lanterns and devices particularly adapted for use therewith. I

A traditional display or decoration utilized in the observance of Halloween is the well-known jack-o-lantern conventionally formed of a pumpkin suitably apertured to resemble a face and provided with an internally disposed light source such as a candle to create an eerie sensation when the jack-o-lantern is placed in a dark or dimly lit environment. However, while a jack-o lantern seldom fails to delight young children, there are certain circumstances surrounding its fabrication and use which are not wholly desirable.

For example, a pumpkin is normally prepared for transformation into a jack-o-lantern by the removal of a portion of its top wall so that the interior thereof may be emptied of seeds and other extraneous materials. This removed or separated top portion then functions as a lid for the jack-o-lantern. Frequently, however, the natural stem of the pumpkin has been broken ofr during harvesting or shipment and, hence, there is no convenient means whereby the lid thus provided may be grasped to gain access into the interior of the jack-o-lantern.

An even more serious problem arises in the lighting of a candle which is positioned within the jack-o-lantern to provide certain desired effects. In the first place, if the candle is merely positioned on the floor of the interior of the pumpkin, it will normally be unstable and may be easily upset if the jack-o-lantern is jarred or moved. Also, the candle is normally positioned immediately beneath the opening in the top wall through which the hand is inserted to light the candle or to position a lighted candle, thereby making manipulation or lighting of the candle quite dangerous. In view of the temptation and curiosity which a candle arouses in children and their tendency to handle it, this hazard is especially imminent.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide devices particularly adapted for use with jack-o-lanterns which will render them more convenient and/ or safe for use.

An additional object of the invention is to render the lid of a jack-o-lantern easily engageable even though the natural stem of the pumpkin has become detached therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to render a jack-olantern particularly adapted to receive a candle in such a manner that the candle can be easily positioned, lighted and maintained therein in a safe and eflicient manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a jack-o-lantern showing various of the features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional elevational view of the jack-odantern shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in section, of a portion of the jack-o-lantern shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

The present invention is adapted to be utilized with a jack-o-lantern 11 having a removable top section 13 to provide access to a hollow interior. Very generally, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an artificial handle 15 adapted to be attached to the separable top section 13 so as to facilitate the removal and replacement thereof, and a carrier 17 secured to and suspended from the handle internally of the jack-o-lantern and adapted to support a candle 19. By virtue of its connection to the handle 13, the candle carrier is withdrawn from the interior of the ja-ck-odanterri whenever the top section 13 is removed and, when so withdrawn, is readily accessible to the placement thereon of the candle 19 and the lighting of the same.

More specifically, the jack-o-lantern 11 with which the handle 15 and candle carrier 17 of the present invention is utilized is preferably sculptured from the shell 21 of a natural pumpkin 23 by the provision of apertures 25 in one wall thereof shaped to resemble the eyes, nose and mouth of a real or imaginary creature. If desired, however, the handle 15 and candle carrier 17 may also be utilized with a shell fabricated of a fireproof material formed to resemble a pumpkin and suitably apertured in the above-referred to manner. The top section 13 of the shell 21 of the pumpkin 23 is separated from the remainder thereof along a somewhat conical surface to provide a lid which may be removed to provide access to the interior of the jacko-lantern, the conical surface being effective to prevent the lid from being inserted completely into the interior of the pumpkin.

When a natural pumpkin is used to form the jack-olantern, the stem of the pumpkin is frequently severed or broken from the remainder of the pumpkin during harvesting or shipment, thus rendering the lid of the shell inconvenient to grasp. Accordingly, the handle 15 is provided and comprises an elongated slightly curved member 27 formed to resemble the stem of a pumpkin. The lower end surface of the handle is adapted to be placed in close fitting relationship to the area of the top section 13 to which the natural stem had been attached and may, if desired be provided with a serrated or sharp edge whereby it may be embedded in the top section and thereby blend more completely into the shell.

The handle 15 is attached to the top section or lid 13 by means of a stud 29 which is embedded within the handle and projects outwardly therefrom a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of the top section. The stud is forced or otherwise inserted through an opening thus provided in the lid. The outwardly projecting end of the stud is threaded to permit attachment thereto of the candle carrier 17, the presence of which also prevents withdrawal of the stud from the opening.

The candle carrier 17 is attached to the threaded end of the stud 29 and comprises a pair of L-shaped brackets 31 and 33, each of which includes a horizontal base 35 and a generally vertical arm 37. The bracket 31 is inverted with its base 35a uppermost and with its arm 37a depending therefrom. The base is provided with a threaded hole to receive the threaded stud 29 of the handle and serves as a fastener by means of which the handle is attached to the lid.

The remaining L-shaped bracket 33 is disposed with its base 35b lowermost and with its'arm 37b extending upwardly therefrom. The bracket 33 is secured to the bracket 31 by a pair of straps 39 which encircle the arms 37 so as to maintain the arms in close relation to one another but which permit sliding relative movement of the brackets in the vertical direction so that the overall length defined by the arms can be adjusted to accommodate pumpkins of various internal heights. The arm 37a of the bracket 31 is provided with a nub 41 which projects inwardly toward the 'arm 37b of the bracket 33, and the arm 37b of the bracket 33 is provided with a series of notches 43 to receive the nub 41, whereby the brackets may be fixed in any of a number of desired positions.

In order that the candle may be suitably accommodated on the L-shaped bracket 33, the base 35b thereof is provided with a cup 45 which will receive wax which drips from the candle. If desired, the bottom of the cup may be provided with an upwardly projecting tack or pin (not shown) which may be inserted into the base of the candle to stabilize it in position.

A generally concave reflector 47 designed to concentrate the illumination of the candle and reflect it forwardly out through the apertures of the forward wall of the pumpkin is disposed adjacent the candle 19 with its concave surface facing in the direction of the apertured wall of the pumpkin. The reflector preferably is formed of a polished metal and is supported by means of a threaded bolt 49 passing through the reflector and through an opening provided in the arm 37]) of the bracket 33. A washer 51 is interposed between the reflector and bracket to maintain .a spaced relation therebetween.

After a candle has burned for some time within a jack-o-lantern, the smoke from the candle will normally deposit a layer of soot on the under surface of the top wall or lid. Also, if a natural pumpkin is used, the heat rising from the candle will tend to dry the lid so as to eventually render it flammable. In order to avoid this possibility, a shield in the form of a plate 53 having 21 depending peripheral flange 55 is positioned immediately beneath that portion of the top section 13 overlying the flame of the candle and intermediate the base 35a of the bracket 31 and the top section. An opening is preferably provided in the plate to receive the stud 29, and may or may not be threaded as desired. Because of its position, the shield will be first contacted by the smoke and the heat of the candle and will deflect the same outwardly to other parts of the interior of the jack-o-lantern so that the smoke and heat will not be concentrated on any one portion of the interior wall surface thereof.

It will be seen, therefore, that a device has been provided which not only serves to make the use of a jack-olantern more eflicient and convenient because of the provision of a handle for the lid thereof, but, when a candle is used with the jack-o-lantern, renders the jack-o-lantern safer to operate and maintain. In this regard, it should be appreciated that with the candle attached to the lid, the candle may be easily withdrawn for lighting or extinguishing or replacement, and the deflector prevents the heat or smoke from the candle from being injurious to the interior of the pumpkin. Also, the provision of a reflector serves to increase the efficiency of the candle and provide a more pleasing effect from the use of the jacko-lantern.

While various of the structural features of the invention have been shown and described with respect to a specific embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination handle and candle carrier adapted to be attached to the separable top section of a jack-o-lantern and comprising an elongated member of suflicient size to be easily grasped with the hand and having a lower end surface adapted to be'placed in close fitting engagement with the upper surface of a portion of the top section of the jack-o-lantern, a stud projecting from the lower surface of said member and adapted to be inserted through an opening in the portion of the separable top section of the jack-o-lantern, and a candle carrier attached to said stud so as to prevent the withdrawal of said stud from said opening and to thereby secure said handle to the separable top section of the jack-o-lantern, said candle carrier including a bracket structure of vertically adjustable length threadedly secured to said stud and extending downwardly within the interior of the jack-o-lantern, a support portion secured to the lower end of said bracket structure in generally horizontal disposition and adapted to have a candle positioned thereon, and a reflector secured to said bracket structure adjacent said support portion so as to reflect the light emitted by a candle disposed thereon.

2. A combination handle and candle carrier adapted to be attached to the separable top section of a jack-o-lantern pumpkin from which the natural stem has been removed, and comprising an elongated member of sufficient size to be easily grasped with the hand and having a lower end surface adapted to be placed in close fitting engagement with the portion of the top section of the pumpkin to which the natural stem was attached, a stud projecting from the lower surface of said member and adapted to be inserted through an opening in the portion of the separable top section of the pumpkin to which the natural stem was attached, and a candle carrier attached to said stud so as to prevent the withdrawal of said stud from said opening and thereby secure said handle to the separable top section of the pumpkin, said candle carrier including a support portion adapted to be disposed in a generally horizontal position within the pumpkin and adapted to have a candle positioned thereon, a reflector supported adjacent an edge of said support portion so as to reflect the light emitted by a candle disposed thereon, and a plate located above said support portion and adapted to deflect smoke and heat from the lower surface of the separable top section of the pumpkin.

3. In combination, a hollow body resembling a jacko-lantern and including a removable top wall section affording access to the interior of the body, and a device for suspending a candle within said hollow body, said device comprising a stud extending through a hole in the removable top wall section in close fitting relation to the walls of said hole and in intersecting relation to the inner and outer surfaces of the top wall section, said stud having a length greater than the thickness of said top wall section and being disposed relative thereto with an end projecting past each the inner and outer surfaces thereof, a handle having a width greater than the diameter of said stud secured to said stud adjacent the end thereof projecting past the outer surface of said top wall section, and a candle holder including a candle-supporting platform secured to said stud adjacent the end thereof projecting past the inner surface of said top wall section so as to suspend said candle holder from said top wall section, said candle holder having a width at its point of attachment to said stud greater than the diameter of said stud, said stud being rendered detachable from one of said handle and candle holder so as to permit attachment and detachment of said candle-suspending device to and from said top wall section.

4. A combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said candle-suspending device includes a reflector secured above said platform and provided with a reflective surface facing an interior surface of a side wall of the hollow body.

5. A device for supporting a candle within a jack-olantern having a separable top section, said device comprising a candle supporting platform, a bracket secured to said platform and extending upwardly therefrom, said bracket comprising at least two interconnected sections shiftable relative to each other so as to permit the upper end of said bracket to be selectively positioned at any one of a plurality of predetermined distances from said platform to accommodate the device to jacko-lanterns of various heights, andmeans for securing the upper end of said bracket adjacent the lower surface of said top section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

10 C. R. RHODES, Assistant Examiner. 

3. IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW BODY RESEMBLING A JACKO''-LANTERN AND INCLUDING A REMOVABLE TOP WALL SECTION AFFORDING ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BODY, AND A DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING A CANDLE WITHIN SAID HOLLOW BODY, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A STUD EXTENDING THROUGH A HOLE IN THE REMOVABLE TOP WALL SECTION IN CLOSE FITTING RELATION TO THE WALLS OF SAID HOLE AND IN INTERSECTING RELATION TO THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES OF THE TOP WALL SECTION, SAID STUD HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID TOP WALL SECTION AND BEING DISPOSED RELATIVE THERETO WITH AN END PROJECTING PAST EACH THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES THEREOF, A HANDLE HAVING A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID STUD SECURED TO SAID STUD ADAJCENT THE END THEREOF PROJECTING PAST THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID TOP WALL SECTION, AND A CANDLE HOLDER INCLUDING A CANDLE-SUPPORTING PLATFORM SECURED TO SAID STUD ADAJCENT THE END THEREOF PROJECTING PAST THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID TOP WALL SECTION SO AS TO SUSPEND SAID CANDLE HOLDER FROM SAID TOP WALL SECTION, SAID CANDLE HOLDER HAVING A WIDTH AT ITS POINT OF ATTACHMENT TO SAID STUD GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID STUD, SAID STUD BEING RENDERED DETACHABLE FROM ONE OF SAID HANDL AND CANDLE HOLDER SO AS TO PERMIT ATTACHMENT AND DETACHMENT OF SAID CANDLE-SUSPENDING DEVICE TO AND FROM SAID TOP WALL SECTION. 